Temporary sambodhi?

Exploring Theravāda's connections to other paths - what can we learn from other traditions, religions and philosophies?
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Mal
Posts: 75
Joined: Sat Sep 29, 2012 12:21 pm

Temporary sambodhi?

Post by Mal »

Ajahn Brahm says in MMB ( p.98) that after the twelfth step of the Anapanasati Sutta (MN118, "you obtain a happiness of jhana so similar to enlightenment happiness that he [the Buddha] named it sambodhi sukha (MN 16, 21). It's a place where the defilements cannot reach... your are awakened and free during this time."

So is this a temporary state equivalent to full enlightenment for the time it lasts?
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LonesomeYogurt
Posts: 900
Joined: Thu Feb 23, 2012 4:24 pm
Location: America

Re: Temporary sambodhi?

Post by LonesomeYogurt »

It is the suspension of greed, hatred, and delusion - so in that sense, yes, it is. But unlike Nibanna, it is only temporary.
Gain and loss, status and disgrace,
censure and praise, pleasure and pain:
these conditions among human beings are inconstant,
impermanent, subject to change.

Knowing this, the wise person, mindful,
ponders these changing conditions.
Desirable things don’t charm the mind,
undesirable ones bring no resistance.

His welcoming and rebelling are scattered,
gone to their end,
do not exist.
- Lokavipatti Sutta

Stuff I write about things.
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